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The coronavirus pandemic has made the production of medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) a major focus in America. In recent weeks, we've seen the president invoke executive orders for production of things like masks and ventilators, while several companies have voluntarily shifted their operations to solely producing items needed for the fight against coronavirus. But one of the reasons our nation has had to scramble to ramp up production of medical equipment can be traced back ten years, to the signing of the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare.
A controversial but now mostly forgotten provision in Obamacare--the medical device tax--hampered the production of medical equipment in our country for years leading up to the coronavirus pandemic. "The Obamacare medical device tax imposed a 2.3 percent tax on gross medical device sales for all American companies," says John Kartch with Americans for Tax Reform. "This applied even if the company made no money in a given year, or even lost money, so it hit all companies hard."
The medical device tax was originally set to begin in 2013, but Republicans in Congress were able to delay it for the remainder of the Obama presidency. However, the constant threat of the tax was a hindrance to any U.S. company in the medical supply sales or production business. "It put American medical device manufacturers at an enormous disadvantage," says Kartch. "And unfortunately a lot of these jobs and products moved overseas."
President Trump ultimately repealed the medical device tax permanently, one of six Obamacare taxes repealed by Trump since he took office. Nevertheless, the damage done from the years of the tax hanging over the medical device industry hurt U.S. production prior to the arrival of Covid-19. "As we prepare for the future and recover from the virus now, it is fortunate that we've been able to get rid of that Obamacare tax, and we've got to make sure that Democrats don't try to bring it back," says Kartch.


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Starbucks is bringing back a popular beverage.
The Mocha Coconut Frappuccino returned to the coffee chain’s menu last Thursday.
The drink briefly appeared on the company’s menu in 2002 and 2011 but had been discontinued until now, according to Delish.
The blended beverage is made of coffee, mocha sauce, coconut syrup and milk. It’s available for a limited time in the US and Canada.
Customers have the option to add whipped creme and coconut flakes.
The company will offer a bottled Mocha Coconut beverage that’s sold in grocery stores year-round, according to a press release.
The chain offers many bottled versions of its’ signature beverages in grocery stores nationwide, like its Iced Espresso Classic lattes, mochas, and frappuccinos.
Customers were delighted to hear that the Mocha Coconut Frappuccino returned to the chain’s menu.
When mocha coconut is back @Starbucks.
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A list of the BC Liquor Distribution Branch’s wholesale prices for cannabis products has been revealed by a user on Reddit.
While the script was able to pull the wholesale pricing information, a spokesperson confirmed via Shopify that no customer data was accessed.
The BCLDB is working with Shopify and other IT service providers to ensure the site is secure, BCLDB communications manager Viviana Zanocco tells Mugglehead.
“The LDB is investigating after our wholesale cannabis price list was posted on a public platform. The person seems to have been able to access the BC Cannabis Wholesale site that serves private and public retail stores, who are our wholesale customers,” Zanocco explained in an email statement. “The BC Cannabis Wholesale site is the home for pricing and product information for all available SKUs, and other data that would help retailers in placing their orders.”
In a table, sasquatch_jr lists many of the products with comparisons to retail prices at BC Cannabis Stores, the province-owned shop operated by the BCLDB, showing a number of retail markups that far exceed amounts typical for analogous industries like liquor.
For example, when the provincial branch dropped the retail markup on alcohol for restaurants and bars last year to help with the Covid-related drop in sales — they used to have to pay the same as consumers — the amount those businesses paid decreased by around 20 per cent.
Depending on regional laws, wholesale-to-retail markup typically ranges from 20–45 per cent, which can be higher when factors like private distribution is involved.
BC Cannabis Stores sells Redecan CBD Reign Drops for $19.99 a bottle, a 117 per cent markup from the wholesale price of $9.20.
Despite frustrations expressed by consumers online, the BCLDB provided explanations for the discrepancies.
Zanocco says the retail markup at the BCCS averages out at 30 per cent, but can be higher for reasons specific to an individual product:
- Beverages cost more to ship, and so an additional mark up is added.
- Licensed producers may drop their price when product is not moving through the warehouse, and accept a lower margin. Retailers who’ve already bought it at the higher price — Emerald Health Chemdog, for instance — cannot sell below the new wholesale price, so on paper private retailers’ or the BCCS’ markup may increase depending on the new and old price points.
- Sometimes new products arrive at a much lower wholesale cost. BCCS chooses to price it competitively, so the margin on this particular SKU is higher than comparable product.
“BC Cannabis Stores must balance our need to be profitable – and contribute revenue to public services – while staying competitive with the illicit market that we’ve been mandated to eliminate,” Zanocco said.
On the wholesale side, the BCLDB applies a 15 per cent markup on purchases from licensed producers. All retailers, including the BCCS, then buy the products at a common wholesale price and pay the cost of shipping from the distribution branch’s warehouse to the retail outlet.
Shopify exposes entire stores via an undocumented and unprotected API
Redditor sasquatch_jr, who’s surprised the BCLDB hasn’t reached out to them, says they’re a backend engineer during the day. The data discovery was made as a result of some time off work over the holidays, the user tells Mugglehead in an email, digging into monitoring Shopify stores using a strange, undocumented feature that “gives you way more information than I would want to be public if I was a store owner.”
sasquatch_jr details the method used on GitHub: “Shopify helpfully exposes entire stores via an undocumented and unprotected API (such as this). This price list was made by parsing that JSON document. At no time did a retailer give me credentials and I have never actually logged into BC Cannabis Wholesale store. The script used to generate this is freely available and is not very complicated for anyone who understands basic programming or python.”
Publication of the BCLDB’s wholesale pricing data comes in the wake of continued calls for this information from people in the industry. Thus far, provincial cannabis wholesalers like B.C.’s liquor branch and the Ontario Cannabis Store have kept pricing a secret.
Other notable retail markups from the recent data include:
- Edison Byte Truffle – Milk Chocolate (duo pack): $4.83 wholesale, $9.99 BCCS retail: 107 per cent markup;
- Redecan CBD gems (15 capsules): $9.20 wholesale, $16.99 BCCS retail: 85 per cent markup;
- 7ACRES White Widow pre-roll (2 x 0.5 grams): $6.35 wholesale, $10.99 BCCS retail: 73 per cent markup;
- Everie CBD Sparling Beverage (various): $3.52 wholesale, $5.99 retail: 70 per cent markup;
- Emerald Health Therapeutics Chemdog dried flower (3.5 grams): $19.55 wholesale, $32.99 retail: 69 per cent markup.
Top image: Screenshot taken by Nick Laba 2021-2-12 at 10:25 a.m. PST from https://sasquatch-jr.github.io/bcldb_wholesale_cannabis_price_list/


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Yet another one of the big names in Super Bowl parties has announced its plans for the first weekend in February. Sports Illustrated will be heading to Miami to throw its annual event, this time at the historic Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The famous sports and entertainment magazine, brand, and media company is partnering with The Undisputed Group to bring in top artists and DJs to perform for guests at what they’re calling “The Party.” Here’s what we know about the 2020 Sports Illustrated Super Bowl Party in Miami!
Shop Tickets to All Super Bowl Parties with Fan! We’ve got tickets to some of the most lavish parties of the weekend in Miami!
Who’s performing at this year’s Sports Illustrated Super Bowl Party?
Last year, SI brought in Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg to perform at its party in Atlanta, along with a celeb-filled guest list.
This year, international electronic music artist Marshmello and hip-hop-pop superstars Black Eyed Peas will be performing at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach on the Saturday night before the big game. There will also be live video mixing and sounds by DJ Irie, who performed at last year’s SI festivities too. Expect lots of concert-quality production and plenty of dancing throughout the night! (Fergie likes to hit popular Super Bowl parties, so what are the chances she’ll be hitting the stage to reunite with the rest of her former band members? Hey, no promises here, we’re just speculating!)
What else can guests expect? What’s the guestlist like?
According to David Spencer, founder and co-CEO of The Undisputed Group, “This year, we’re presenting an immersive, elite playground for partygoers with a curated mix of talent, sponsors, photo opportunities, and more.” The party’s official website also mentions that they’ll feature branded partner integrations during the evening as well.
The official sponsor of The Party is tequila brand Casamigos, and other sponsors include Dewar’s Scotch Whisky, Reign Total Body Fuel, and StubHub.
Of course, similar to all the big Super Bowl parties like Maxim and Shaq’s Fun House, there will likely be celebs, professional athletes, and influencers in attendance on Saturday night. Sports Illustrated is known for bringing fans, pro athletes, and teams closer together, after all.
Last year’s events saw guests like will.i.am, Lil Jon, Aly Raisman, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jasmine Sanders, Danny Trejo, and WWE superstars Mickie James and Mojo Rawley. Sports Illustrated models like cover girl Danielle Herrington got on stage with model friends Hunter McGrady, Haley Kalil, Kate Bock to pose for photos with Snoop, while SI swimsuit model Denise Bidot came out to party too. For a full recap of the 2019 shindig, check out our blog post on last year’s Sports Illustrated Saturday Night Lights Super Bowl Party.
What’s the Deal on Tickets?
Tickets to Sports Illustrated’s The Party can be found on their official website. They start at $500 and go up as high as you can handle.
The $500 tickets include VIP admission, premium open bars, and access to headline entertainment. For $1,500, you can purchase VIP seats at a shared table (and make some new friends!). These tickets include VIP admission as well as access to a table in the VIP lounge, unlimited select bottles, table service, and headline entertainment.
If you want the whole table and bottle service for you and some friends – anywhere from 1 to 10 people! – those start at $10,000 and go up in price as you move from the Patio VIP Tables up to the Gold, Platinum, and VIP Stage Front Table sections – all the way to $40,000! Browse ticket options with us.
Trying to get in on the action? Shop tickets to the Sports Illustrated’s Super Bowl Party
Looking for something else? Still deciding which Super Bowl party to attend? We’ve got tickets to another one of the hottest parties in Miami – Maxim Havana Nights Tickets!


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A concept that turned into rumors has now turned into production plans for a Jeep Wrangler-based pickup due in the next couple years.
In 2005, Jeep introduced the Gladiator concept based on the RAM 1500 platform, and since then, rumors have been circulating about whether Jeep would actually produce a modern pickup to follow in the footsteps of a slew of previous trucks like the CJ-10, Gladiator, Honcho, Comanche, and others. This would be the second Wrangler-based pickup after the CJ-8 Scrambler and the first in over three decades.
Automotive News is reporting that Wrangler production will remain in Toledo, Ohio for the next generation and the pickup variant will be built alongside the two and four-door versions. The Cherokee will move to Michigan or Illinois.
Specifics on the pickup are unclear, but it will borrow aluminum parts from the next-gen Wrangler along with a diesel and small turbocharged four-cylinder engine for improved fuel economy. Size-wise, expect the Wrangler pickup to compete with small to midsize offerings like the Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Toyota Tacoma.
This begs the question of whether Dodge still plans to introduce a reborn Durango that would fit within the same segment. Considering how rapidly the small truck market is growing, it could make sense for FCA to have more than one offering, similar to GM.
FCA plans for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler to sell 350,000 units per year through all its variants. The pickup version may be introduced around the same time as the two and four-door 2018 Wrangler in 2017, or FCA might decide to hold off until 2018.


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Compared to the Civic, the Honda Accord definitely has a lot more to offer but with the Civic now getting so close to what the Accord is offering, the Accord will have no choice but to bulk up.
One of the upgrades that the Honda Civic received was a size upgrade. According to Honda, they wanted their customers to have more space to enjoy on the inside. While that is great for the Civic, the same cannot be said about the Accord.
Most customers will be happy with a size upgrade but according to the Honda Accord fans, the Accord is perfect where it is right now and the size upgrade will make it a little too bulky but what choice does the Honda Accord have.
With the Civic sporting a smaller price tag, some customers might be willing to forgive it for the lack of power and tech features.


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What if you want to start a successful business, but also want to measure success by the good your business can do? And what if you are an entrepreneur, self-employed or a contract worker but want to work in a setting where you can feel like part of something bigger — maybe a place that provides everything from office space to a meditation room to coffee?
You might want to check out a HUB — one of more than three dozen affiliated but independent co-working/business incubator spaces around the globe. HUBs are already up and running in San Francisco (in the Chronicle building, in fact) and Berkeley, and soon, if all goes well, in Oakland.
You don’t have to have a plan to make a positive impact on the world in order to join HUB Oakland, said one of its co-founders, Ashara S. Ekundayo. Anyone can join. But spend some time there, she says, and you’ll probably end up wanting to. “You will be inspired, activated,” Ekundayo said. “The catalyst might be sitting right next to you.”
Read more about this latest chapter in the HUB story here.


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*33 ships more expected between November 18, December 3 – NPA
Eleven as eleven ships are currently discharging petroleum products and other commodities at Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Friday.
NPA explained that the ships were at the ports discharging buck wheat, petrol, empty containers, aviation fuel, Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO), containers and diesel.
Thirty-three ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Lagos ports between November 18 and December 3.
NPA said that the expected ships would ferry into the country bulk sugar, base oil, general cargoes, bulk gypsum, containers, aviation fuel, crude palm olein, diesel and petrol.
NAN reports that 27 ships were expected on November 14, 30 ships on November 15 and 32 ships on November 17.
The document noted that six ships had arrived the ports, waiting to berth with bulk fertiliser, bulk sugar, diesel and petrol.


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PALO ALTO, Calif., (July 29, 2021) – HiHello Inc., the leading digital business card platform for individuals and businesses, today announced a $7.5 million Series A round of funding led by Foundry Group, with participation from Lux Capital and existing investor August Capital. Additional investors include Manu Kumar (Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of HiHello), the co-founders of Lyft, Everlaw, Auth0, Path/June, and Military.com, and product leaders from LinkedIn and Facebook.
HiHello is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that helps people strengthen their relationships and amplify the power of their network. With the high demand for enterprise digital business cards, this new funding will enable HiHello to continue growing its team and expanding its business platform to support companies of all sizes.
“HiHello is the first company to develop a digital business card platform that is truly focused on the end-user experience,” said Lindel Eakman of Foundry Group. “Physical business cards are outdated and difficult to manage, especially for enterprise companies. We’ve seen exciting growth with HiHello’s digital business cards—companies are realizing how powerful virtual cards are when it comes to networking.”
Founded in 2018, HiHello previously announced a $2.5 million round of seed funding in February 2019, led by August Capital, K9 Ventures, and TenOneTen Ventures. HiHello has seen impressive growth—with users spanning across 147 countries, over 1.5 million HiHello digital business cards have been received in the past year alone.
“While HiHello started as a free app, we had people wanting to pay us for premium features,” said Kumar. “Companies are now realizing that they can use a software solution to manage their business cards, networking, and contact management needs, which is more sustainable and beneficial than physical cards.”
Kumar is an experienced founder, having co-founded multiple startups including CardMunch (acquired by LinkedIn), and Carta (now valued at over $6.9 billion). He also manages K9 Ventures, a successful pre-seed venture capital fund. K9 has been an early investor in companies like Lyft (NASDAQ: LYFT), Twilio (NYSE: TWLO), and Auth0, which was recently acquired by Okta (NYSE: OKTA).
As part of the new financing round, HiHello is also adding two new members to its Board of Directors: Lindel Eakman from Foundry Group, and Eugenio Pace, co-founder of Auth0.
To learn more about HiHello, visit www.hihello.me.


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Could Apple’s Siri be a threat to search engines?
Now that Siri has been “out” for a couple of weeks, the Apple-buying public have had a chance to get used to its features – and its “quirks” too. It’s about this sort of time (based on the release of similar “game-changing” products in the past) that the shine starts to fade and the gripe-list begins getting longer.
But Apple fans are a loyal group, in the main, and we’ve seen a lot less Siri-bashing than you might expect so far. Apart from the more “fun” aspects of voice recognition and its limitations, and the funny easter-egg answers that the Apple devs have built in to the app, we’ve not seen much probing of Siri’s functionality yet.
We’ve been testing Siri on a variety of queries this past week, to mixed results. But at this point Apple are quite clear to state that Siri is NOT currently optimised to work in the UK (or using Queen’s English speech, apparently) so it’s probably unfair to start reeling-off the laundry list quite yet. But one thing that HAS struck us is how Siri acts as an additional layer to searches – and what that mean for the search engines.
As this blog points out, reps from Google and Microsoft have been quick to criticise Siri and its foibles – despite rumours of several Android versions in the works (especially the cutely named IRIS – see what they did there?). Could it be that they’re worried about how Siri will impact the way Apple users treat search engines?
I should point out at this point that the searches we’ve done MAY be giving biased results because we’re in the UK – it’d be interesting to know whether the same query examples listed below act the same way in the US, if anyone wants to try them?
At first glance, Siri (in its current form) isn’t have a big impact on the search engines. The majority of searches I tried – at least the sort of searches most marketers would be worried about – resulted in Siri failing and suggesting I do a search using my default search engine instead. Below are a few examples:
But the current situation actually masks a number of developments Siri COULD release which would definitely impact how people use search engines. Namely:
- Unless you’re VERY trusting, you’ve got to be imagining that Apple are collecting up all the data that is passing through Siri to use in developing their own search engine – something which has been rumoured for many years now. If they DO launch their own, Siri would be the perfect testing ground to beta-test it, too.
- Failing that – or perhaps until “iSearch” is ready – Apple could quite conceivably make a global tie-in deal with any of the major search engines to link all searches to one particular engine, thus taking a not-insignificant bite in to the other engine’s cake.
- More significantly than either of the above two points, if users become accustomed to conducting searches via their voice rather than text, this could really change the search landscape – and potentially change the way results need to be returned.
- Finally, the ability for Siri to integrate a social layer will actually be a lot easier than it seems to have proven for the search engines, which may lead to it becoming a far more rounded search approach than traditional search engines. Features like “Find My Friends” being integrated alongside more traditional searches could be a REALLY powerful tool for Apple…
In current form, Siri won’t have Google and Microsoft losing much sleep, it has to be said. But you’d have to be very niaive to imagine Apple won’t be developing some (or all) of the above to integrate in to Siri in future releases, at which point the major search engines could face a lot more stress from the voice-activated personal assistant which has been taking the geek world by storm… Just wait and see!


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Pizza lovers of Hamilton have a brand new gem to try out just off of James Street South.
Flora Pizzeria, located near the corner of James South and Young Street, quietly opened its doors this past week and fired up the pizza ovens to start whipping up some fresh, Roman-style pies and slices.
Simple pizza styles like Margherita or pepperoni are on offer here, but the pizzeria also promises some more involved slices loaded with a wide range of toppings like potato, ham, mushroom, artichoke, and much more on a delectable, thick crust.
The pies are Roman-style, meaning they’re shaped into large rectangular slabs and made available as whole pizzas or ‘al taglio,’ meaning by the slice.
Hamilton’s got a few popular Roman-style pizza options on hand – Café Baffico, Scoly’s Pizzeria, and a number of Fortinos grocery stores to name a few – and Flora Pizzeria already looks to be a welcomed addition.
Flora’s social media presence is curiously scant – they only seem to have an Instagram page – but word on the street is that they’re already serving up some killer slices!
Go check them out at 4 Young Street, just off of James Street South!


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ZEENA's sequel to 'Bring Me the Head of Geraldo Rivera' -
BRING ME THE HEAD OF F.W. MURNAU.
Inspired by this recent news story THE HEAD OF NOSFERATU DIRECTOR F.W. MURNAU STOLEN FROM HIS GRAVE IN BERLIN , Frau Schreck will issue a limited edition vinyl single, musically reflecting the theme and implications of this unusual occurrence.
News of its release will be posted to this blog as well as on Zeena's Facebook page.
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply.


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Even before the global pandemic arrived in every corner of the globe, free trade and the globalized trading system were in critical condition. The bruising U.S.-China trade war, along with regional conflicts such as the Japan-Korea trade war, Brexit, import tariffs, the decline of the WTO, left companies struggling to adjust supply chains and many wondering whether the globalized trading system will survive.
Yet these challenges pale in comparison to the trade and supply chain issues the COVID-19 pandemic generates on a nearly-hourly basis. Demand has plummeted around the world for goods and services as vast portions of humanity are isolated in their homes and left without incomes. Export restrictions on medical supplies, food and other critical products, while still limited, are on the rise, creating fears of reverse protectionism. Airfreight capacity has dropped as tens of thousands of flights are grounded. Logistics companies are struggling to deliver goods as nearly every country in the world has implemented ever-tightening border restrictions in a matter of weeks.
As a result, companies and individuals are struggling to keep our grocery stores, pharmacies, and retailers stocked with the cheap and plentiful products consumers have grown accustomed to, not to mention supply the medicine and equipment that our frontline healthcare workers desperately need. While these are dark days in trade, there are ways to immediately protect your company and your supply chain.
First, companies must protect their workers from the disease. Crisis management procedures to keep people healthy, whether that means remote working procedures or social distancing policies to keep production facilities running, should be implemented and revisited as the crisis moves on. While most companies have implemented these policies as a result of government orders, companies should continuously evaluate how to both keep their employees safe and their companies running. Fighting this disease and its economic ramifications is a marathon, not a sprint, so companies should find ways to maintain continuity as long as possible.
Next, now is the time to be hands-on with your supply chain. Companies need to examine every aspect of their supply chain and logistics: every container, every ship, every truck, every port, and every border crossing. In this way, you can understand how your goods must pass to understand how the pandemic will affect each shipment. Seafreight remains stable, though that could change, so companies with any slack in their supply chain should consider moving goods in advance through slower means.
Companies also need a proactive examination of their legal risks. This assessment must include a review of which contracts may be broken through force majeure and other similar break clauses, whether initiated by you or the other party. At first, only producers were using force majeure as they realized they did not have the raw materials, labor shortages, and logistical support to deliver products. Now, importers and end-users are breaking their contracts as demand drops and shops close. Similarly, insurance markets are struggling to find ways to insure goods, services, and even projects as supply chain issues threaten to slow projects around the world. A holistic examination of your legal risks will save your company money and time when legal challenges arise.
Companies also need to find help from their governments. Governments are looking to help companies stay afloat, keep people employed, and keep goods and services flowing, but they are frequently looking for answers from companies. If you are not part of a trade association, join one. And if you do not have representation in Washington, now is the time to make sure that government authorities know how best to help your company and industry navigate this crisis and to remind them of the value that trade brings to communities around the world, and where you need help.
The COVID-19 crisis will leave the global trading system permanently altered, but it is also a reminder that, just as our physical health is intertwined with our neighbors, our economic health is also dependent. Long-standing trade relationships are under strain, contracts will be voided, and shipments unfulfilled. Yet a healthy dose of compassion and understanding that your business partners are facing the same challenges as your company may help you maintain your trading relationships through these hard times and allow them to rebound faster when the crisis is over.
Benjamin Kostrzewa is a Registered Foreign Lawyer at Hogan Lovells, working in Hong Kong and Washington serving the needs of clients on both sides of the Pacific. Before joining Hogan Lovells he served as Assistant General Counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.


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I’m writing this post to let all of our past, present, and future customers know how much we appreciate all of you. For years, shoppers have been leaving comments about their BatteryMart.com experience on Bizrate.com, one of the largest sources of consumer-generated review content in the world. These completely independent reviews not only help new customers, but they tell how we’re doing.
Last week, Bizrate announced we’ve been inducted into the 2010 Circle of Excellence. According to the press release, “… the 2010 Bizrate Circle of Excellence award was earned by 134 online retailers, representing the top 2.7% of the Bizrate Insights North American Network.” (Full press release is here)
This is a huge milestone and we couldn’t have done it with you. Thank you.
Here’s what our customers are saying about us right now:


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Menzies Distribution has expanded its nationwide fleet with more than 100 new Volkswagen Crafters.
The vans will be deployed by the logistics firm, completing retail, healthcare, and parcel deliveries across the UK.
The new fleet will be a mix of standard and long-wheelbase Crafters, all in Startline specification. The vehicles were chosen for their lowest-in-class aerodynamic drag, largest load compartment height of up to 2.196m, and largest side loading and opening width of 1.311m. Menzies says it will also take advantage of the Crafter’s driver assistance and safety systems, such as autonomous emergency braking. Both variants ordered by Menzies are powered by 2.0TDI 140PS engines with emissions at Euro 6d-TEMP-EVAP-ISC level.
Adam Purshall, fleet & procurement director from Menzies Distribution, said: “We’re delighted to expand our Crafter fleet, having been impressed with their reliability and aftersales from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles since we started our partnership in 2019. In addition to the expansion of our dedicated electric fleet, which we aim to roll out far ahead of any regulatory deadlines, it’s imperative that we upgrade our traditional fleet with the very best in class. Final mile and urban deliveries continue to be an important part of the work Menzies Distribution undertakes and we are pleased to be able to operate in any part of the country with a full Euro 6 fleet.”


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Cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex, in partnership with the Celsius Network platform, will provide its users with the opportunity to receive rewards from storing Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and XRP.
According to the press release, starting October 15, Bitfinex customers will be able to create and manage accounts on Celsius directly through the exchange. Thanks to this integration, users will be able to receive up to 6.2% per annum for storing BTC; 6.2% and 4.91% for ETH and XRP, respectively.
“We believe this offer will appeal to customers who have bought bitcoin as a long-term store of value,” said Paolo Ardoino, CTO of Bitfinex.
The exchange noted that rewards will be accrued daily and paid out at weekly intervals. Bitfinex users will always be able to withdraw their funds from Celcius without any restrictions.
“Our integration with Bitfinex is in line with the goals of both companies - to attract the next 100 million people to the crypto community,” added Alex Mashinsky, CEO of Celsius.
This week, Bitfinex announced the launch of Equity Index Derivatives, which are calculated in the stablecoin Tether (USDT).


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A survey conducted by the Azim Premji University has shown heavy job losses for informal and migrant workers in the four states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh due to the lockdown. The disruption in the economy and labor markets in these states is enormous. Livelihoods have been devastated at unprecedented levels during the lockdown and the recovery from this could be slow and very painful, the survey pointed out.
Covid-19 and its associated safety measures, such as the lockdown since March 24, have taken a heavy toll on the economy, particularly on the vulnerable informal and migrant workers and their families. The survey measured levels of employment and earnings since the lockdown was imposed, and compared them to the situation prevailing in February. It covered self-employed, casual, and regular wage/salaried workers.
The sample for the survey was selected using the networks of civil society organization collaborators.”The findings pertain only to the sample and are not representative of the entire state. Findings should not be compared across states,” it said.
For the survey in Bihar (Rural) with 173 respondents, it said nearly half (46 percent) of the respondents lost employment. Casual wage workers were more severely affected, with eight in 10 casual workers losing jobs. More women (55 percent) lost employment compared to men (35 percent). More SC/ST workers (58 percent) lost employment compared to OBC workers (35 percent).
Nearly seven in 10 households had to reduce their food intake during the lockdown. The SC/ST households were the worst affected in terms of food intake as 85 percent of them were consuming less food than before. Nearly two in 10 vulnerable households did not receive rations. More than half (56 percent) of the vulnerable households did not receive Jan Dhan cash transfer. Four in 10 vulnerable households did not receive any cash transfer, the survey said for Bihar.
For Jharkhand (Rural) with 458 respondents, the survey found that nearly six in 10 (58 percent) respondents lost their employment. Casual wage workers were more severely affected with 76 percent reporting loss of employment. Nine in 10 farmers (89 percent) were not able to harvest or sell their produce at full price. Four in 10 salaried workers (42 percent) were not paid salaries or faced pay cuts during the lockdown.
For non-agricultural, self-employed workers and wage workers, who were still employed, average weekly earnings fell by two-third (65 percent). Nearly eight in 10 (77 percent) households reported reducing their food intake during the lockdown. Casual wage workers were more severely affected with nine in 10 (93 percent) casual wage workers reporting reduced food intake. Six in 10 vulnerable households did not receive Jan Dhan cash transfer and more than half (54 percent) vulnerable households did not receive any cash transfer.
In Odisha, the survey of 503 respondents found that two-third (67 percent) respondents reported losing their employment. The urban self-employed people were the worst-hit with nearly all of them (96 percent) losing their employment. The earnings of casual wage workers and non-agricultural self-employed people who retained their employment fell by 80 percent.
Nine in 10 farmers were unable to harvest or sell their produce at full price. Eight in 10 households reported consuming less food during the lockdown than before. Urban households and migrants were more severely affected with nine in 10 reporting reductions in food intake. The ration distribution was good with nearly nine in 10 households receiving rations. However, seven in 10 vulnerable households did not receive Jan Dhan cash transfer. A quarter of vulnerable households did not receive any cash transfer.
In Madhya Pradesh (Rural) with 525 respondents, the survey found that almost half of the respondents (48 percent) lost employment during the lockdown, and the worst-hit were the casual workers, with 65 percent of them losing their jobs. More than seven in 10 farmers were unable to harvest or sell their produce at full price. One-fourth of households did not have money to buy even a week’s worth of essentials. SC/ST households were more constrained as compared to OBC and general category households.
Seven in 10 households were consuming less food than before during the lockdown. As many as 45 percent of all vulnerable households did not receive Jan Dhan cash transfer. Nearly four out of 10 (36 percent) vulnerable households did not receive any cash transfer.


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Posted by Paul Makishima, Globe Assistant Sunday Editor January 4, 2010 02:02 PM
JetBlue Airways has just announced a winter sale with fares from Boston as low as $39 each way to Baltimore and Buffalo, N.Y. Tickets must be purchased before Jan. 14, and travel must be completed by March 24. While a sale is never bad news this one comes with a number of qualifiers. The carrier noted that sale prices may not be available on all days and flights, that some fares may require a 10-day advance purchase, and that there are blackout dates and other restrictions. In short, a good deal for the right traveler.


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Recently, the mobile retail network, Eko, has tied up with the State Bank of India to expand mobile banking services across rural India. The partnership aims to create greater access to financial services such as savings, for over one million customers. Customer service points have currently been set up in a handful of cities in the North.
New Delhi: For the urban India, banking means a stop at the nearest ATM, but what about the lakhs of people in the rural India who have no such access? But now thanks to the Eko system of banking, the mobile retail network has tied up with the SBI allowing almost 11 lakh rural customers to bank through their local shops.
Sanjay Kumar works at a laundry in Delhi. In the past six months, he has saved Rs 9,000 in his savings account. Interestingly, he didn’t have to visit a bank to start the account.
11 lakh vendors like Kumar have successfully started their own savings accounts at the State Bank of India by depositing money at a local shop and helping them achieve this financial independence is Eko India Financial. Started in 2007, EKO today has several centres across India and has been helping the country’s unbanked population.
Customer service points are available in the Delhi-NCR region, Bihar and Jharkhand. These local retailers are trained through workshops conducted by Eko. They, in turn, motivate others, seeking financial independence to go to local shops and open saving accounts. But all this was not easy, said co-founder Abhinav Sinha.
India has 80,000 private and public banks to serve a billion-plus population. What’s all the more shocking is that about 40 crore people living in semi-urban and rural areas across India still have no access to even basic banking services.
For people like Sanjay Kumar, Eko has given a new lease of life, making them financially secure and stable, something that is often taken for granted by our system.


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POSCO and food business — many people will have a hard time connecting the dots between the two. In Korea, steel is known as the rice of the whole industry, reflecting the reality where rice is the main diet of the country.
Does this mean the ‘food’ here refers to steel? Because that would make much more sense, but no! It doesn’t.
POSCO Group has been involved in the agro-resources for a while now. As of late, the company is really growing the business, designating it to be included as one of POSCO’s top 100 reforms.
In September this year, POSCO INTERNATIONAL established a grain export terminal in Ukraine as part of the reform effort. Agro-resource is much more than just profits, as food security is becoming more important. Why is POSCO Group in it, and what does the company aspire to achieve through the business? POSCO Newsroom reports.
l Agro-resources — Why Is It Important?
In the 2000s, severe drought swept across Europe and Latin America, the world’s top wheat-producing regions. Global crop production plunged incurring sharp food inequality across nations. Real concerns on food shortages started surfacing — now, food security has become one of the top policy agendas worldwide.
What is the reality of Korea’s food security? The 2018 Global Food Safety Index ranks Korea 25th out of 113 countries with a score of 75.6. Not only did Korea score low compared to other OECD countries, but the country’s grain self-sufficiency is declining every year. Considering Korea’s traditional grain-based diet and ever-increasing meat consumption which require huge amount of grain feed, Korea’s GFSI figure is alarming.
Based on the statistics from the last three years, the Korea Rural Economic Institute reports that Korea’s grain-self sufficiency ratio is at 23% — the global average is 101.5%. Korea’s annual grain demand is over 20 million tons including both for human and animal consumption, but except for rice, Korea relies mostly on imports. This level of high dependence will exacerbate the food crisis whenever the global grain prices fluctuate, which is why securing sustainable future food resources is crucial.
l From the Industrial Rice to the Actual Rice
As for the trade volumes, POSCO INTERNATIONAL is Korea’s number one agriculture trader. In addition to the direct involvement in food production, the company is generating long-term and stable profits through its global grain value chain ranging from processing, storage, transportation to terminal operations. Some of its biggest operations include the palm oil business in Indonesia, rice processing complex in Myanmar and grain terminal in Ukraine.
(1) Farm Value Chain: Palm Oil Business, Indonesia
POSCO INTERNATIONAL’s palm oil business in Indonesia is a type of farm value chain which includes direct production activities. In 2011, POSCO INTERNATIONAL established a plantation in Papua, Indonesia. As of 2017, palm oil occupies 39% of the edible oil market, and Indonesia is one of the world’s top palm oil producers. Together with Malaysia, Indonesia produces 85 percent of the world’s palm oil. Amidst the world’s bio market spotlighting palm oil for its wide usage, Indonesia’s palm oil is consumed domestically and is also exported to other countries in Asia, Europe.
(2) Processing Value Chain: Rice Processing Complex, Myanmar
After Indonesia, POSCO INTERNATIONAL subsequently sought after a new project in Myanmar, one of the major rice-exporting countries. With 20 years of rice-importing experience under its belt, POSCO INTERNATIONAL established a processing value chain in Myanmar: the company first purchases paddy from producing area in Myanmar; subsequent procedures like drying, storage, milling, and inspection can be done altogether, not at separate places. The first plant has been in operation since 2017, and the second plant was completed earlier this year. The plants are set to process and distribute 100,000 tons of rice annually.
(3) Distribution Value Chain: Grain Terminal, Ukraine
Ukraine is among the world’s top five countries exporting major grains such as corn, wheat, and soybeans. POSCO INTERNATIONAL established a grain procurement corporation in the world’s major grain belt, Ukraine, subsequently establishing a grain export terminal before any other Korean companies. With the annual capacity of the terminal expected at 2.5 million tons, the operation of the terminal took off this year. By securing the grain terminal, POSCO INTERNATIONAL has now established a distribution value chain, followed by the previous farm and processing value chains.
With this establishment, POSCO INTERNATIONAL can have logistics control which deals with purchase, inspection, storage, shipment of Ukrainian grain coming into the terminal. Efficient inventory management is an additional benefit. The fact that a private company like POSCO INTERNATIONAL is operating an overseas export terminal not only means its capacity growth as a global grain trader, but also signifies its potential contribution to establishing Korea’s grain procurement system for the future.
l The Completed Value Chain to Incur 5 Trillion Won in Sales and Improve Food Security
POSCO INTERNATIONAL aspires to grow its agro-resources business into 5-trillion won cash cow business by 2030. To that end, the company is stepping up its midstream expansion and the completion of the value chain. The palm oil business in Indonesia is starting to make profits, and now there is a much more positive outlook on the second plant of Myanmar’s rice processing complex. By establishing the company’s comprehensive value chain system encompassing food distribution, production, procurement, and processing, the company will further strengthen its base for the agro-resources as a future core business.
Meanwhile, as more consumers opt for non-GMO food products, and logistics efficiency improves, Ukraine’s crop export to Asia is increasing. Therefore, the Ukrainian government is proactively seeking to improve aging storage facilities and to develop grain export terminals. POSCO INTERNATIONAL’s grain terminal business is significant in that private company is cooperating with the government for overseas grain stockpiling.
As for Korea’s food security, it is also strategically important to diversify base grounds such as Ukraine to cope with more flexibility in responding to the food fluctuations that can occur arising from climate change and diplomatic conflicts. This is why overseas grain storage business by a private company like POSCO INTERNATIONAL becomes even more significant. It is also important to establish a supply chain in the Black Sea port, which exports approximately 90% of Ukraine’s total grain exports. Solid construction for one of POSCO Group’s new growth engines has begun — and the company is more prepared than ever to take the next step.


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Is it Made in America? That's a tough question
January 9, 2014,
Larry Thomas - Business Editor
This year, the issue is whether a product can be labeled "Made in America."
It should come as no surprise that California has a different labeling standard than the rest of the country, but a bill in the California Senate would bring the state's rules closer to Federal Trade Commission standards.
Notice that I said "closer" to the FTC standards. Even if the bill passes, California's labeling requirements probably would remain the most stringent in the country.
Current California law says that a product sold in the state can't be labeled "Made in America" unless the product and all of its components are manufactured and assembled in the U.S. That's an awfully high bar to clear, and a recent article in the San Jose Mercury News noted that many California business owners believe it's an unrealistic standard in today's global economy.
The article quoted, among others, Richard Russell, president of the three-store Russell's Fine Furniture chain. Russell told the newspaper he was planning to call his fourth store "Made in America," but decided to change the name after his furniture vendors couldn't guarantee that every component would be made domestically. (The law doesn't even make an exception for components that aren't available domestically.)
"We've seen plant after plant shuttered and I want to support American manufacturing and bring jobs back to America," Russell told the newspaper. "But I don't want to get sued. It blows me away that I can't say ‘Made in America.'"
When his newest store opens in February, it will be called Russell's Furniture American Pride/Bringing Jobs Back Home.
The bill in the California Senate would allow a "Made in America" label if foreign parts constitute a "negligible part" of the final product and those parts are not available in the U.S.
We're not sure if that would help Russell and others in the furniture industry, as it would still be more stringent than FTC standards and could require manufacturers to separately label products sold in California.
The FTC standards, adopted in 1998, say that a product can be labeled "Made in America" if "all or virtually all" of it is made domestically.
Obviously, language such as "all or virtually all" leaves considerable room for interpretation. For example, is a recliner built in Mississippi using a cover that is cut and sewn in China considered "Made in America?"
In my opinion, the answer is yes. But it couldn't be labeled that way if it's sold in California, even if the Senate bill is signed into law.
Interestingly, the chairman of the Los Angeles-based Made in the USA Foundation called California's current standard "ridiculous" in the newspaper article. He said most consumers know that products labeled "Made in America" probably do include some foreign parts.
"Because it's so easy to prove a violation, it's the lawyers who want it - not the consumers," Joel Joseph told the newspaper. "A lot of companies are violating California's law, which makes it a hotbed for lawsuits."
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Finland is an outlier, and not least due to its location on the north-eastern fringes of Europe. Take its media market: Helsinki-headquartered Sanoma Media reaches an astonishing 95% of the country’s population each week via its 50-plus brands spanning TV, radio and print, including Helsingin Sanomat, the largest daily newspaper in the Nordic region. Even in digital media, Sanoma reaches 86% of Finnish internet users each month.
“We probably only compete with North Korea in the [percentage] of users we reach in Finland,” joked Jaakko Kuivalainen, Sanoma’s Director, B2B Digital Business, at the Programmatic Pioneers conference (Twickenham, May 2019).
For brands demanding mass reach, it provides a unique alternative to the digital ‘duopoly’ of Google and Facebook. One such advertiser is retail, construction and automotive conglomerate K Group, which operates several grocery retail brands in Finland, including K-Market. The company’s 1,200 stores receive 1.2 million daily visits from customers; it also boasts 3.6 million loyalty members.


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Dear Students, Families, Faculty and Staff: In recent days, there has been a renewed and palpable sense of energy on our campus. Many of us are feeling optimistic for the future, especially as more and more members of our community…
Fashion’s Night Out ‘Cuse Style
FADS (Fashion Association of Design Students) is hosting its annual fall fall fashion show this Saturday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. in the lobby of The Warehouse. The theme of the show is Fashion’s Night Out ‘Cuse Style. The event showcases all student’s abilities in the fashion department, and is a completely studen- run show.
Sephora will do the makeup for the models, as well some promotional things for the store. There is also an after-party to follow at Bounce downtown in Armory Square filled with music, food, drinks and entertainment.
Tickets are $5 with SU ID and can be bought at the student box office or at the door.


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NEW YORK, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Two weeks into the coronavirus crisis, Lisa Morales-Hellebo and Brian Aoaeh, founders of The Worldwide Supply Chain Federation (#TWSCF), knew they had to help. “The shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators was staggering; not to mention the difficulty finding suppliers, red tape in the ordering process, price gouging and fraud”, said Ms. Morales-Hellebo. “This creates an impossible hurdle for hospitals, nursing homes, local governments, shelters, prisons, and the like to filter through the noise to place orders,” she said. As an interdisciplinary, grassroots community of innovators and enterprises devoted to building supply chain networks of the future, #TWSCF is in a perfect position to help.
Ms. Morales-Hellebo and her team created a global clearinghouse to carefully vet and onboard PPE and related suppliers along with set fixed pricing. This is orchestrated with the help of numerous donations and both U.S. and overseas manufacturers.
#TWSCF partnered with JOOR, the leading tech fashion wholesale platform/marketplace that connects thousands of brand manufacturers and retailers. JOOR is providing #TWSCF a private marketplace for their verified suppliers and buyers, which enables instant access and scale for manufacturers, and the ones who need it most on the front lines. “We are taking orders through our private marketplace platform and harnessing the time and energy of JOOR employees who have volunteered to reach the thousands of brands who use us and engage them in the effort,” said Kristin Savilia, CEO of JOOR.
Airtable, an online data collaboration company has also been helping with the global database while logistics partners are in place to manage shipments from four regional hubs around the country. “It’s a terrific example of a localized, agile, and collaborative network”, said Mr. Aoaeh. Brands like Tibi, Everlane, Vera Bradley, Citizens of Humanity, Guess, Walter Baker, and more are participating.
“We’re also enabling small factories to rehire their workers that they recently laid off,” said Mr. Aoaeh, adding, “we’re not limited to fashion - we’ve been documenting innovative “Made in the USA” filtration materials for masks, new open source & lower cost ventilators, and emerging certified innovations for sterilization and reuse of existing PPE, sourced from around the world.”
According to Ms. Morales-Hellebo, “If there is any silver lining to this global crisis, it has made crystal clear that our globalized supply chains are at risk. This is our wake-up call to invest in needed infrastructure for our most critical supplies to be manufactured in America which will create jobs and increase our national security.”
Manufacturers are encouraged to participate by going to www.theworldwidesupplychainfederation.com to match production capabilities with a list of healthcare products in demand. Healthcare facilities can sign up for the PPE they most need and will be granted access to the private marketplace once onboarded. Also, local Government offices are encouraged to connect so they can take pressure off their resources and healthcare facilities in orchestration of PPE supply.
About The Worldwide Supply Chain Federation (#TWSCF)
The Worldwide Supply Chain Federation (#TWSCF) is a collaborative, and mutually supportive coalition of open and multidisciplinary grassroots communities focused on supply chain, innovation, and technology. Each chapter brings together startups, large corporations, small and medium-size businesses, technologists, supply chain professionals, investors, journalists, corporate treasury, regulators, academics, and research and development specialists - for the purpose of helping to navigate the complex, evolving, and changing supply chain landscape. Its founding chapter, The New York Supply Chain Meetup has over 3,000 members.
JOOR is the world’s industry-standard wholesale platform for fashion, beauty and home, that transacts over $1Bn in GMV every month. More than 8,600 brands and over 200,000 retailers across 144 countries connect on the platform every day. With a commitment to fueling the advancement and growth of both brands and retailers, JOOR offers free and paid tiers: JOOR Lite and JOOR Pro. JOOR Lite offers basic functionality for brands and retailers, whereas JOOR Pro provides advanced capabilities for greater flexibility, visibility, performance and analytics.
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Here’s a shocker. All four major US carriers — Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile — have just announced that they’re joining forces to deliver RCS messaging in the US for Android smartphones in 2020.
AT&T Stories October 25, 2019
AT&T Stories October 4, 2019
Back at I/O, with the release of the Google Pixel 3a, Google launched both it and its flagship brother, the Pixel 3, on three more carriers. However, this still left AT&T out of the fun, but an alleged internal email points to the Google Pixel 4 launching on the carrier.
AT&T Stories August 21, 2019
AT&T Stories July 15, 2019
Since the original Pixel, Google’s phones have been exclusive to Verizon, but as you would expect, unlocked devices typically work just fine on other carriers. Now, months after the launch of the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, users who brought their phones to AT&T are beginning to have issues staying connected to the carrier’s LTE network.
AT&T Stories June 13, 2019
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G arrives at AT&T, but only for businesses and developers
5G is going to be a huge deal when it finally arrives, but there needs to be sufficient hardware first. The Galaxy S10 5G is one of the first “mainstream” devices with the connectivity, and now it’s arrived at AT&T, but with a catch.
AT&T Stories April 25, 2019
Android Open Source Project adds the ‘5G E’ icon from AT&T’s blatant marketing lie
AT&T has been involved in one of the most scummy marketing campaigns we’ve seen in quiet some time lately. The company’s “5G E,” or “5G Evolution” rebrand of 4G LTE has shown up on a lot of smartphones over the past few months, and now, it’s been added to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).


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Welcome To Troptions Exchange
THE OFFICIAL TROPTIONS EXCHANGE WEBSITE!
TROPTIONS is an asset-supported trade system secured by the Bitcoin block chain. TROPTIONS can be exchanged for US currency, other cryptocurrencies or used to trade for items of value. Unique to TROPTIONS is the ability to trade for offerings that are exclusively within the TROPTIONS system. TROPTIONS holders are able to find offers (with favorable prices) that otherwise would not be available to them. You are invited to explore our website, find out about your many options with TROPTIONS and learn more about what makes TROPTIONS a very special cryptocurrency!
Join the Troptions revolution! A New Currency - New Lifestyle!
What Is The Troptions ECOsystem?
The TROPTIONS Eco system enables two parties (peer to peer) to exchange goods or services based on mutually perceived value.
The TROPTIONS Eco System was created for business holders of TROPTIONS, to let other TROPTIONS holders use their goods or services using the Currency known as TROPTIONS.
XTroptions.Gold will be the first of the TROPTIONS Currencies that will be used for the TROPTIONS Eco system. Learn More about the Eco System here
Checkout the new Crypto Currency Radio Show
Starting October 2nd, 2018. Listen to the best Crytpo Currency information out there from the top experts in the field. And direct from the source the knows and the knots of CryptoCurrency. Tuesdays 2-4pm and Thursday 2-4 pm on Real 1100 Am, with your host Crypto Queen Sophia White and Crypto Expert Bryan Stone and many guests don't miss this show!
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Bitcoin is on the move again, thanks to an Elon Musk tweet.
The Tesla CEO and Dogecoin lover said in a tweet on Sunday that Tesla “will resume allowing Bitcoin transactions” if and when there’s “confirmation of reasonable (~50%) clean energy usage by miners with positive future trend.” Bitcoin popped nearly 1% after the tweet to $37,650.
The tweet was a response to a CoinTelegraph story about Magda Wierzycka, CEO of fintech company Sygnia, accusing Musk of a Bitcoin pump and dump scheme after Tesla bought $1.5 billion in BTC and then, in Wierzycka’s summation, “sold a big part of his exposure at the peak.”
Musk dismissed Wierzycka’s criticism as “inaccurate,” adding that Tesla “only sold ~10% of holdings to confirm BTC could be liquidated easily without moving market.” (Musk did say in April that Tesla “sold 10% of its holdings essentially to prove liquidity of Bitcoin as an alternative to holding cash on balance sheet.”
In the past year, Musk’s tweets have repeatedly moved crypto prices, both up and down.
Tesla’s Bitcoin purchase in February gave a boost to both Bitcoin and TSLA stock, but then his surprise tweet in May that Tesla will no longer accept Bitcoin due to environmental concerns prompted a major pullback that has continued as he continued to tweet his concerns about Bitcoin.
Meanwhile, he has favored meme token Dogecoin instead, and his Doge meme tweets have repeatedly boosted DOGE.
Price charts show that the Elon Effect on crypto prices is alive as ever. After Musk’s tweet on Sunday, Bitcoin broke through the resistance level of $35,000 to $36,000 for the first time since the beginning of the recent bearish trend in April.
The debate over Bitcoin’s environmental impact has grown louder and hotter over the past year, and has prompted critics to call for more Bitcoin mining that uses renewable (or “clean”) energy. The current portion of Bitcoin mining that already uses renewable energy is in dispute. A 2020 report from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance estimated that 39% of Bitcoin mining uses renewable energy, while a 2018 report from CoinShares, a crypto investment firm, pegged the figure at 77.6%.
At some point between Tesla buying $1.5 billion in Bitcoin in February, and Musk backing away from it in May, the executive clearly became concerned about the energy usage of Bitcoin mining and how it might harm Tesla’s green image.
At the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami last week, chants of “Fuck Elon,” as well as t-shirts bearing the same phrase, were popular. But if Tesla is willing to re-embrace Bitcoin, maybe Bitcoiners aren’t broken up with Musk for good.


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News about Mehmet Sindel.
April 23rd, 2012
The Turkish mobile network operator has combined its location-based service (LBS) platform with its NFC mobile wallet service to allow subscribers to receive special offers on their NFC phone when they are near a participating merchant — and then redeem an offer at the point-of-sale.
January 3rd, 2012
Turkish mobile network operator Turkcell has signed up a third bank for its Cep-T Cüzdan NFC payments service. Turkcell launched the service in conjunction with Yapi Kredi Bank in May 2011, and later added Garanti…


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Data Centers: Unlocking Investents & Opportunities In India
As the Indian data center market is set for explosive growth over the next five years, getting an indepth understanding of the direction that we are taking, the infrastructure requirements to facilitate businesses to leverage datacenters better, and potential business challenges are pivotal for business leaders and policy makers. Join us at The Economic Times Data Center Virtual Summit, where we will bring together industry stakeholders, policymakers, regulators and service providers to understand the industry demands, bridge the gaps along with provide solutions for a sustainable and smarter future. Some key facets that will be touched upon include:
The groundwork India needs to become Asia's most sustainable datacenter nation
•Datacenter Operations and the people, process, and technology changes redefining them
•Leveraging the cloud and datacenters to build new business frontiers in diverse areas
•A look at how security is shaping up in the era of cloud technology and its most pertinent advancements
The burgeoning growth of smart devices, localization, social media, digitization and increased cloud adoption of businesses is further catalysing the data center boom in the Indian context. The summit is an opportunity to garner a panoramic view of the most relevant trends and tried and tested strategies in the data center space. From its existing capacity of 447 MW, the Indian Data Center industry is expected to more than double to 1007 MW. A significant factor that is fuelling data center outsourcing is that many businesses today are adopting hybrid business for greater resilience and agility. The country's datacenter market is estimated to witness investments to the tune of $8 billion by 2026. Mumbai and Chennai are set to drive 73 percent of the sector's total capacity addition during 2021-23, while other cities like Hyderabad and Delhi NCR will emerge as new hotspots.
Business and thought leaders will delve deeper into data center and cloud technology solutions deployed across sectors. The summit will highlight potential roadblocks, solutions and strategies to get the best out of digital transformation initiatives for your business.


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Companies can return capital to shareholders in many ways. Dividends are one of the favored methods. So is retiring outstanding debt, as it decreases the amount of capital needed for debt service. Another one of the top ways is for a company to buy back its own stock. This has a twofold effect. First, it obviously can be a positive for the stock price, and secondly it also takes some of the float out of the market. Many companies repurchase stock for their employee stocks plans.
We looked through the data from FactSet and other top research firms and found 10 companies buying back more than $1 billion of their own shares. Like insider buying, it makes sense for investors. If the companies want to own their stock, you may want to as well.
CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) kicks off the list with a sizable $6 billion buyback in place. The company is also in the middle of a high-profile fight with Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) over fees and its programming has been temporarily dropped in the New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. The Thomson/First Call price target for this top entertainment name is $60. Investors are paid a small 0.9% dividend.
Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL) is an oil services name in the process of a $3.3 billion buyback. The company recently pled guilty to destroying evidence in the Gulf of Mexico’s Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010. The buyback and the settlement may give the stock the momentum it needs. The consensus price target for the stock is at $54, and investors are paid a 1.1% dividend.
Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) as mentioned, is in the big fight with CBS. It also just announced a plan to buy back $4 billion more of its stock. Takeout and merger rumors also are swirling around this top stock to buy. The consensus price target is at $120, and shareholders are paid a 2.2% dividend.
Juniper Networks Inc. (NYSE: JNPR) announced in June a plan to repurchase $1 billion in stock, and it added a $1 billion additional amount when it announced preliminary earnings on July 23. The consensus price for this top tech name is $22.
Maxim Integrated Products Inc. (NASDAQ: MXIM) is buying back stock and consistently raising its dividend. The company engages in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing various linear and mixed-signal integrated circuits worldwide. The consensus price objective for the stock is $30, and the company pays a solid 3.7% dividend.
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) received approval in the late spring for a $1.2 billion repurchase program. The company also posted outstanding second-quarter earnings and appears to be hitting on all cylinders, both in the United States and around the world. The consensus price target for the stock is at $60, and investors get a tiny 0.1% dividend.
Priceline.com Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN) has been on fire and seems destined to join the $1,000 stock price club. The company announced in May a $1 billion stock buyback program, and it also had tremendous second-quarter earnings. The consensus target for this top travel name is $945.
Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) replaced its head of research in April and is betting big on new medicines to treat cancer and Alzheimer’s, though those therapies are still years away from being available to patients. The company also announced a $5 billion buyback of its stock in May. The consensus price target for the drug giant is $52. Investors receive a solid 3.5% dividend.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) seems to have an exciting array of new products to spring on its legions of followers. From the iPhone 5s or 6, enhancements in Apple TV, to a possible iWatch, Wall Street may be in for a surprise. The company sold $17 billion in bonds in late April to help finance what ultimately may be a total of $60 billion in share buybacks by the end of 2015. The consensus price target for the iconic tech stock is $525, and investors receive a 2.8% dividend.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) announced a $15 billion share repurchase plan at its shareholder meeting back in June. The $15 billion program replaces the current $15 billion share repurchase program begun in 2011. About $712 million is left under that program. The consensus price target for the nation’s largest retailer is $81.50. Investors are paid a 2.4% dividend.
It is important to remember that just because a company is buying back its stock does not mean that it will trade higher. Some major corporations with huge stock floats like Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) have had multibillion dollar buyback programs for years. Anyway you look at it though, a company that consistently buys back stock has the potential for a solid future.


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It was 2015 when Apple has last launched the iPad Mini, it was known as iPad Mini (4th Generation), the upgrade of the device is long due and now it seems that Apple is working to upgrade the iPad Mini line-up. As per the reports, Cupertino-based company has already finalised the design of iPad Mini 5, internal hardware and if reports from China as to be believed, it has even given nod for contract supplier to make to displays for the tablet.
DigiTimes citing reliable sources have confirmed that Apple has asked General Interface Solution (GIS) to produce 40 percent of the display panels, while TPK Holding will handle the rest (60 percent) of the requirements for the iPad Mini 5.
Apple is slated to unveil iPad mini 5 along with the standard iPad (2019) during the spring event around March-end or early April.
“Apple reportedly plans to launch two entry-level tablets in the first half of 2019,” DigiTimes writes, “including a fifth-generation iPad mini and another entry-level iPad model, said the sources.”
Specifically, this would mark the launch of the iPad Mini 5 as well as what would technically be the seventh standard iPad of its kind, or the iPad 7. Apple hasn’t updated the former in almost four years; the latter, on the other hand, was just refreshed in March 2018.
Actually, today you can still buy the 7.9-inch iPad Mini 4 for a higher price than the latest 9.7-inch iPad with Apple Pencil support. So, yes, Apple sorely needs to update the Mini line at the very least.
The report only goes as far as suggesting that the new models exist and that they could likely arrive during the first 6-months of 2019. There is no additional information provided on the hardware in terms of capabilities or features but it’s highly unlikely that those new entry-level models would come with advanced technology, such as Apple’s Face ID offering which is now present in the iPad Pro models.
There would also be no support offered for Apple’s second-generation Apple Pencil hardware. Still, as a product offering, a new iPad mini 5 would likely hit the sweet spot for a lot of consumers who simply do not need what the iPad Pro offers.
This step of Apple should also be evaluated through the rough phase company is going. Currently, company sales of iPhone’s are going down in the growing market like China and India because of the price factor. Launching the devices with low prices tag can help Apple increase their revenue.


text: Thwarting car thieves in Mexico can be as easy as G-P-S. That’s because Guidepoint Systems (GPS), a vehicle tracking and convenience system that uses global positioning satellites (GPS) is proving efficient for recovering stolen vehicles, the company announced on April 26.In the past eight weeks, Guidepoint has helped Mexican authorities recover four stolen vehicles in a matter of hours or, some cases, minutes. The value of the vehicles and contents recovered is nearly $800,000, according to reports. Guidepoint’s recent recovery of a pickup truck in Guadalajara is a prime example of the system’s efficiency. When the owner noticed that his Chevy pickup was missing at around 9:30 a.m., he called Guidepoint’s 24/7 call center to report the theft. Guidepoint was able to locate the truck using its GPS tracking system and assist Mexican authorities by giving them the exact location of the stolen pick-up. By 9:45 a.m., police arrested the suspect and recovered the truck – less than 15 minutes after the reported theft. This is the fourth time in eight weeks that Guidepoint has used its GPS technology to recover a stolen vehicle in Mexico. In February, Guidepoint helped a logistics firm recover a stolen truck loaded with Nestle’s foods. In March, Guidepoint worked with Mexican authorities to recover a hijacked truck carrying 10 tons of Colgate-Palmolive products, including soap, toothpaste and other household items. In both cases, Mexican authorities were able to locate the stolen vehicle and arrest the suspects within hours. All the hijacked merchandise was recovered and the drivers were unharmed.


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The social media photo and video sharing platform Instagram has finally rolled out direct messages feature for its desktop website along with Instagram Live feature support, two features that were only available on the mobile app.
Instagram has been working on direct messages for web for quite some time now and testing has been going on since January and the Facebook owned company finally announced the the feature on its official Twitter handle.
The Instagram direct messaging feature for desktop is similar to the mobile version with the same icon on the top corner taking you to the message option.
Read more: Apple and Google join together to make COVID-19 contact tracing tool.
Apart from this new feature, Instagram Live is now also available for desktop meaning users can view streams on the web something which was not available before.
Unlike the mobile version where comments are shown over the live stream, the web version of the live stream shows comments on the side similar to Facebook where comments are separate on the web based version and over the stream while using the app.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy S21 might have Under Display Selfie Camera.
Follow INCPAK on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram for updates.
Noo stay away from desktop instagram!
Just kidding, this is actually cool.


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Xiaomi had tweeted that they will come up with the news about the Redmi Note 3, today. Unfortunately they just revealed the launch event date, it will be held in Delhi on 3rd of March 2016. The event will begin from 2PM onwards.
The company is inviting everyone for the launch event – event time is 2PM to 4PM and registrations for the event will begin at 12:30PM. If you are interested you can apply from this page.
The company will be launching the Redmi Note 3 powered by Snapdragon 650 processor (hexa core) with Adreno 510 GPU. MIUI will run over a 5.5 inch screen with FHD resolution. Not sure if the company will launch both variants i.e. with 2GB RAM / 16GB storage and 3GB RAM / 32GB storage.
This is a dual SIM handset that also comes with a 16MP primary camera and 5MP secondary camera. Key features are 4G LTE, 3G, 2G, GPS, WiFi, fingerprint scanner and Bluetooth. The Redmi Note 3 gets power from a 4000 mAh battery.
So stay tuned for the launch event on 3rd March, the only thing users are waiting to know is ‘What will be the Price?’.


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Amid less expensive destinations for kids’ online clothing and declining traffic in malls, Gymboree Group Inc. plans to close following its second bankruptcy. The retailer, which has just under 950 locations, filed for protection from creditors in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Bloomberg reported.
Gymboree Group CEO Shaz Kahng said in a press release, “the company has worked diligently in recent months to explore options for Gymboree Group and its brands, and we are saddened and highly disappointed that we must move ahead with a wind-down of the Gymboree and Crazy 8 businesses.”
While the company is looking to shutter its Crazy 8 and Gymboree brands, a Goldman Sachs Inc. unit is seeking bids for the company’s Janie and Jack business. As it stands, the company has $212 million in total obligations. They consist of outstanding letters of credit ($44.5 million) and a senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility ($79.1 million) in addition to a senior secured term loan (roughly $89 million).
The news comes as Gymboree Group Inc. was eyeing a bankruptcy loan, per reports in December. That financing could allow some of the company’s stores to stay open as it seeks a buyer. According to sources that were not named in the report, it is probable that Gymboree will shutter most of its 900 stores, yet the company may try and sell over 100 stores and was said to have tapped a firm to help it find a buyer.
The report noted that many retailers have filed for bankruptcy before liquidating. Other companies, however, have made the filing along with “prepackaged plans” to help them remain operating. Retailers such as Sports Authority, RadioShack and Toys R Us wanted to restructure their operations with bankruptcy, but they ended up having to close amid shifts in the brick-and-mortar retail space as well as changes in the behavior of shoppers.


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A bridge of light becomes the icon of Abu Dhabi
On the occasion of the opening ceremony of Hudayriat Island in Abu Dhabi, the bridge joining the city to the island was illuminated by a complete “made in Italy” LED technology.
Spacecannon enters the Superbike World Championship!
Starting from the next race in Misano Adriatico, Spacecannon officially enters the Superbike World Championship (SBK).
Thanks to the partnership with Alteha BMW Racing Team, Spacecannon will illuminate by its products the hospitality of the official BMW team.
Spacecannon SNe and Al Ghantoot Group
On last month of April, Spacecannon and the Al Ghantoot Group signed an exclusive partnership agreement.
The Ghantoot Group will represent the Italian company both as an exclusive agent and as an exclusive distributor throughout the United Arab Emirates and in any sector in which Spacecannon is committed.
#WHITE in the City
For the first time this year Spaceannon SNe is going to attend the Milano Week design with “White in the City”
Spacecannon SNe at “Global Soccer”
After the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro Spacecannon SNe has reached a new important goal.
In the wonderful frame of Dubai, at the side of significant brands which created a close relationship with the world of international sports, Spacecannon SNe took part in the ceremony of the Gloce Soccer Awards as sponsor and official supplier.
This event has been the occasion to introduce as world premiere eBlack Professional, the new Led equipment made in Spacecannon SNe, created to illuminate professional football fields.
WE LIGHT YOUR DREAM
Spacecannon SNe, in partnership with CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) is proud to announce its participation in Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games with the lighting project for CASA ITALIA, headquarter of the Italian team!
COLORS AND RELAX “VILLA PRATO”
Discover how Spacecannon SNe helped the designer to create a magic atmosphere
with glare free RGBW light effects with the BRAVO family.


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We’re supporting Drax & EDMI to introduce polyphase smart meters for UK businesses
We are delighted to support our customer Drax and EDMI through our software as they pioneer the introduction of polyphase SMETS2 smart meters. These new meters will give large industrial and commercial businesses greater control of their energy use. Drax’s Managing Director Paul Sheffield said this new smart meter technology “is going to be a game changer for thousands of our larger customers.” You can read the full article by clicking here.
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Written on: June 14, 2022
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., one of the nation’s largest propane retailers, announced today that it is joining the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA). The Washington, D.C.-based trade organization represents approximately 2,400 companies in the U.S. propane industry.
“This is the right time for Ferrellgas to lend its expertise to our industry association,” said Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board James E. Ferrell. “Ferrellgas is focused on growth, and so is the NPGA.”
Stephen Kaminski, NPGA President & CEO agreed. “We are thrilled that Ferrellgas is reengaging with NPGA and the state and regional propane gas associations,” he said. “Having the Ferrellgas team at the table, with their significant experience and depth of knowledge, will bolster NPGA’s representation of the propane industry.”
“We are excited to help support the great work the NPGA is doing to promote the awareness of and availability of green, accessible, affordable, and efficient propane,” added Ferrellgas Chief Operating Officer Tamria Zertuche.
As Ferrellgas’s membership begins, several employee-owners from the company will be joining the NPGA’s committees and councils, including the Audit, Governmental Affairs, PropanePAC Steering, Propane Supply & Logistics, and Technology, Standards & Safety Committees as well as the Cylinder Exchange and Women in Propane Councils and the Executive Board.
“Ferrellgas is a critical part of the propane industry and their representation in NPGA makes NPGA stronger,” Kaminski added. “We look forward to working together.”
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., through its operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P., and subsidiaries, serves propane customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Its Blue Rhino exchange brand is sold at 60,000 locations nationwide. Ferrellgas employees indirectly own 1.1 million common units of the partnership, through an employee stock ownership plan. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. filed a Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, 2021. Investors can request a hard copy of this filing free of charge and obtain more information about the partnership online at Ferrellgas.com. For more information about Blue Rhino, visit BlueRhino.com.
About the NPGA:
NPGA represents every segment of the propane industry. The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) is the national trade association representing the U.S. propane industry. NPGA’s membership is approximately 2,400 companies in all 50 states, 36 affiliated state or regional associations, and members in 19 foreign countries. Businesses engaged in the retail marketing of propane gas, producers/wholesalers of propane, manufacturers and distributors of propane equipment, and service providers of all types are represented in NPGA’s membership.


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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — During Pilot Flying J’s annual Hauliday Giveaway, Dec. 1-12, professional drivers can win daily prizes, including inverters, radios, GPS units, gift cards and more.
Each day, from Dec. 1-12, Pilot Flying J will post a question on the company’s Facebook page. To enter, drivers simply answer the question in the comments section of the post within 24 hours for a chance to win the day’s prize.
Pilot Flying J operates more than 750 travel centers in 44 states and six Canadian provinces.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.


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Advanced TV as an advertising medium - what the experts say
The "Tag der Online-Werbung 2023" was all about Advanced TV and the advertising opportunities that CTV, Smart TV, VOD and the like bring with them. We asked the speaker about it.
Cross-media brand building for Feldschlösschen
20 Minuten and Picstars implemented a cross-media storytelling campaign for the non-alcoholic beer segment and the Valaisanne brewery.
Advertising on time-shifted TV: Goldbach’s TV portfolio now includes replay ads
The TV industry is launching a world premiere for TV advertising: The replay ads. This will allow advertisers to also address potential consumers specifically on time-shifted TV.
Replay Ads - Advertising on time-shifted TV
Replay ads mark the beginning of a new advertising era, because advertising now is also possible on time-shifted TV. Find out what this new form of advertising on catch-up TV entails.
Cookieless future: Goldbach implements data onboarding solution


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USA: Whole Foods imposes deadline on brands to drop false organic claims
by Redaktion (comments: 0)
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) has announced that is pleased Whole Foods Market is taking action to address widespread organic labeling fraud in personal care. Certain brands make organic claims on products whose main cleansing and moisturizing ingredients are generally made without any organic material and are usually composed in significant part from petrochemicals. Whole Foods staff should be commended for taking such a bold meaningful step on behalf of organic integrity for their customers, according to OCA. The new standard announced by Whole Foods is a milestone achievement for OCA campaigners who recently began escalating tactics with boycotts of organic cheaters, protests at trade shows and forging strong alliances with groups such as Consumers Union.
"In the wake of the BP oil spill, Whole Foods' announcement couldn't come at a better time. Now more than ever, Americans are searching for alternatives to petro-chemicals, including in the bodycare aisle," says Ronnie Cummins, co-founder and executive director of OCA. "The new Whole Foods policy is a major victory for people who want to stop washing petrochemical formulations all over their bodies and then down the drain. These consumers want trusted options for real organic personal care. Whole Foods policy will force major organic cheater brands to drop organic claims from their branding and labeling." The new Whole Foods Market policy on "organic" labeling personal care products states: "We believe that the "organic" claim used on personal care products should have very similar meaning to the "organic" claim used on food products, which is currently regulated by the USDA's National Organic Program. Our shoppers do not expect the definition of "organic" to change substantially between the food and the non-food aisles of our stores."
Whole Foods new policy mandates that "Organic Product" or "Product made with Organic (specified ingredients)" claims must be certified under the USDA National Organic Program, just like food. A more limited "Contains Organic Ingredients" claim for personal care may be certified under the NSF ANSI 305 standard, which has additional allowances for personal care products. All organic claims which are not certified, including "Organics" in branding must otherwise be dropped. Brands have been told they have until August 1, 2010 to explain how they will change their labeling or formulations to comply with the new standard. Those that don't submit an explanation are expected to be dropped from store shelves over the coming year while those that comply will have until June 1, 2011 to be in full compliance with Whole Foods new policy.
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Honda Motor Co. is recalling about 318,000 Odyssey minivans sold in the U.S., along with 56,000 Acura MDX sport-utility vehicles.
Another 23,300 of the Odyssey models and 4,800 of the Acura SUVs sold in Canada also are being recalled.
In addition, the Acura MDX recall covers 1,000 vehicles in Japan and nearly 1,600 in Australia.
Honda said it received complaints recently that the airbag opened unnecessarily in the 2003 and 2004 model year Odyssey and the 2003 Acura MDX because the computer chip for airbag deployment was responding to electrical interference.
A part called an electrical noise filter needs to be installed to prevent the problem, the company said.


text: Amazon is set to lay off hundreds of employees across its subsidiaries Twitch, Prime Video, and MGM studios. Approximately 500 Twitch employees, which is a third of the workforce, will be affected by the layoffs. Chief executive Dan Clancy confirmed this in a note to staff. Additionally, several hundred employees at Prime Video and MGM studios will also lose their jobs this week. Despite reporting significant profits, Amazon has already laid off over 27,000 employees in 2023. Twitch, originally created for gamers to watch and share video gameplay online, was acquired by Amazon in 2014 for $970 million. In an email to employees, Clancy explained that the layoffs were necessary to create a more sustainable business. He mentioned that the company paid out $1 billion to streamers in 2023 but had conservative expectations for future growth. Amazon reported a profit of $9.9 billion in July to September, up from $2.9 billion during the same period in 2022. In an email sent to Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios staff, senior vice president Mike Hopkins stated that the company would be reducing or discontinuing investments in certain areas while focusing on content and product initiatives with the most impact. He acknowledged that it was a difficult decision to make and indicated that the job losses would affect employees in the US and around the world. Amazon acquired MGM Studios for $8.45 billion in 2021 and announced plans to introduce advertisements on Prime Video starting from February 5, 2024. These layoffs are part of a broader trend in the tech sector, which saw a significant increase in job cuts in 2023 compared to the previous year.


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Daily Archives: July 17, 2014
Chinese innovation boosts African environmental leadership in multi-million dollar south-south partnership
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Hundreds trained in cost-saving sustainable land management, rainwater harvesting and dryland agriculture in major China-Africa initiative
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — African ministers in charge of integration are meeting in Ezulwini, Swaziland from 17 to 18th July under the theme, infrastructure and integration in Africa. They were joined at their opening session today by the Right Honourable Dr Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland; African Union Commission Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma; Prince Hlangusemphi Dlamini, the Swazi Minister of Economic Planning; and AU Commissioners Drs Elham Ibrahim and Anthony Maruping.
ArKay Beverages Inc. is Inviting African Wealthy Individuals to Invest in the USA and Obtain their US Green Card
Johannesburg – MTN Business has enhanced its Cloud offering with the addition of five new services to the MTN Cloud bouquet. The services, which range from marketing tools to security and accounting products, aim to simplify and improve how customers run their businesses.
CAPE TOWN – Immense gains are being made by independent petrol retailers across Africa, presenting an enormous challenge to franchise operators for oil giants which have monopolised the continent’s markets for decades.
Dubai, July 17th, 2014: Flytxt, the Big DataAnalytics solution provider for Communication Service Providers (CSPs), announced their strategic tie up with Vodacom, Mozambique’s leading mobile network. Flytxt, through its Big data technology and analytics driven solutions, will enable Vodacom to enhance revenue and customer experience by analyzing customer behavior and extending next best offers to its subscribers in real-time.